How the Buffalo Bills became Football's Tragic Hero

Creator: Matt
What does it mean to be a fan? The Buffalo Bills have a long and complex history. These two statements may seem completely unrelated, but the uncovering the history of this historic NFL franchise may help us learn valuable lessons about sports fandom, and ourselves. From Josh Allen, to O.J. Simpson, to the 4 consecutive Super Bowl losses in the '90's, these are the Buffalo Bills
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[@lbennhtx6072]

“13 Seconds” will never be duplicated. Truly a loss for the ages.

[@jsmpsnn]

Chiefs fan here. Bills Mafia is without a doubt my favorite opposing team's fanbase. Awesome people that love football. Great job on the video.

[@xXGreatKilla]

As a lifetime Buffalonian who never really got into football but was recommended this video by a friend.... This honestly just sounds like I dodged a bullet not being a Bills fan. Y'all truly live a tortured existence.

[@zachmelber9482]

As a Bills fan and a long time watcher of you, I welcome you to the fanbase :)

[@stephen_cs]

I got an ad for Ram trucks after you said "Orenthal James"

[@joeldiha8540]

i recently started getting in football and was looking for a team to cheer on. this video has conviced me to join the bills mafia

[@lizd.8655]

I was born and raised in Dallas so I will always mourn the Texas SB that might have been. I have mad respect for the Bills and I truly hope their day will come

[@TheManny717]

Remember, they agreed to trade their 10th pick in the 2017 Draft to get a haul of resources... to Kansas City; KC got Mahomes.

[@lemonjuicegaming6551]

That moment will haunt Buffalo forever if they don't win a Super Bowl title.

[@Renegade-kf8fp]

Bills could’ve gotten thier Michael Jordan

[@HitByAPlane]

​@@Renegade-kf8fpI don't think Mahomes would've been Mahomes without Andy reif

[@TheSoundwave92]

​​Absolutely 💯 ​@@HitByAPlane people think mahomes would have been a slam dunk with anybody but he had to sit a year. Mahones was a project QB but Andy had success with numerous QBs prior. Obviously he had no rings either before Mahomes but you can't say one is successful without the other just like Brady/Belichick, Montana/Walsh, Starr/Lombardi, or Staubach/Landry etc.

[@JoawMebs-im6ix]

Bills got White and Allen out of it though

[@splitman1129]

Crazy timing. Netflix just released the 30 for 30 or whatever show about the 4 peat Superbowl losses.

[@Ryguy-lg2xz]

OJ sure knifed his way through the defense

[@janellemaynait]

Why Buffalo stories seems like a really sad movie

[@YunaCrawford]

They’re the Cleveland Indians. Even 2016 felt more sad

[@therealjaystone2344]

Buffalo and San Diego have one common: being cursed

[@Entername-md1ev]

@@therealjaystone2344at least San Diego has sunny beaches 24/7 for coping 😅

[@AVSCOUNTRY2024]

@@YunaCrawfordI became an Indians fan in 2015 and I learned about their history and god damn it’s torture my 12 year old self sitting there in my basement after watching my Indians go on 22 game winning streak just to choke a 2-0 series lead to the 🤬ing Yankees me sitting there in absolute silence, disbelief and tears lots and lots of tears. 2016 watching my team go to the World Series after learning about what they had accomplished in the mid 90s my goodness it feels like a nightmare being 2 outs away from winning it all in 1997. And then 2016 going up 3-1 to the Cubs I felt like I was finally going to witness a championship and I’m also a Rockies fan and a Chiefs fan. Became a Chiefs fan because as a kid I watched them beat the Niners My Dad’s team in 2014 and as kids do they switch their team so I switched to KC . I made the right move their. But god It felt like I was gonna get to see a Championship. And nope it hurt bad. Been a Avs fan my whole life too. And Basketball isn’t my favorite sport to watch but I’ll cheer on the Nuggets. But damn it took 14 years 8 months and 27 days precisely to watch a team win a championship for the first time in my life. The 2020s have been absolutely wild so far sports wise . Chiefs 2020. Avalanche 2022 after years of 2nd round heartbreaking loss and a few years of tanking and rebuilding in between in the 2010s with the Avs. Chiefs 2023, and now Chiefs again 2024. Wild too see 3 straight years with at least a Championship and the Nuggets won a championship too in 2023 so it’s even crazier how I never expierenced any winning in my first full decade of life to 4 championships in 4 years from 3 different teams

[@S_Over_Street]

Many fans were sick & tired of the Bills making the SB again in the ‘93 season vs the Cowboys & then lost 4 consecutive SBs. I sure was excited towards the end of the ‘94 season when they were eliminated for playoff contention. Looking back now, it is a remarkable feat they even made the SB 4 consecutive seasons. The Chiefs this decade could probably match it.

[@kenw2225]

It would be a surprise if they didn't. Not cause they are better than the rest of the afc, but because the nfl helps them. I can't imagine a scenario where they don't at least reach the super bowl next year. Regardless of how good the bills, bengals or ravens are. Ravens lions doesn't get as many viewers as kc 49er or kc lions.

[@wesdogg_]

You made a well edited, well documented video on the history of the Buffalo Bills :) I've been a follower of the Bills since 2017 and have just become a full-time fan since this season as well (attended Miami game as first Bills game) It seems painful now that the 1 big thing standing between Bills and the Super Bowl is Patrick Mahomes. Hopefully, this will be something like the Bulls of the NBA, once they get over the hump of their conference rival, the doors wide open for the Chip! Hope to see more videos like this should you ever do another deep dive ❤

[@b1646717]

My mom, who could care less about sports, felt bad for the 90s Bills after the fourth SB lost in a row.

[@IzzyItachi]

As a Chiefs fan I love this video. I respect Buffalo a ton, and hope that one day their fans can hoist their own Lombardi.

[@nsp51frio]

Honestly as an eagles fan, I kinda feel the buffalo bills fans. All my life we got close to the SB or had our runs and never got lucky until 2017. The Bills are who I root for in the AFC cause I honestly feel like their fan base and ours are pretty similar. I hope they get a SB with Allen. Quality franchise with awesome fans!

[@adamreynolds7081]

As a bills fan.. all I have to say is… “ hurt…” yes that’s a gotg reference… and I felt my stomach drop and my heart stop watching that ball just drift right from the kick. I immediately turned the tv off, turned my phone to do not disturb and just went to bed. Next day I still wore my bills hat and my jersey. Win or lose I will be a buffalo fan.

[@JLFilms4467]

you should do a video on how the islanders 1980s dynasty is so forgotten. they won 4 stanley cups in a row and the most playoff series in a row of any team in north american sports history.

[@vBarnacle]

Sabres fan here, had no idea they were even a thing. PLEASE DO THIS

[@joshuapatrick682]

Simpson is proof that Justice may be Blind but it sure knows what Money smells like...

[@fireatwill7707]

Great video. Lifelong Pats fan but I have always loved the Bills going back to using Thurman and Bebe on Tecmo Bowl

[@timhowell6929]

lol “rock bottoms rock bottom has in fact, a rock bottom” awesome quote!

[@mebnt]

Mahomes is single handedly going to ruin Jackson's, Allen's, and Burrow's careers. The 3 of them will never win anything with Mahomes in the AFC

[@javysrcuadrado427]

Love the video, welcome to bills mafia. GO BILLS

[@warpdrivefueledbyinsomnia8165]

Welcome to fandom, friend. I've been a Titans fan since '98, when they were the weirdo Tennessee Oilers. Our teams have some fun history together (even outside of The Comeback and the Music City Miracle). I really hope Josh Allen can finally at least get to a SB. He's earned it, and I think it'd be a feel-good story.

[@alishanicole3887]

Lifelong Chiefs fan but my bro is a Bills fan. I have a load of respect for Josh and the Bills Mafia brings the energy every time we play. See you guys next year!

[@Sad_mariners_fan]

Yeah I know how it feels

[@joshuapatrick682]

you take one look at Josh Allen and you get why the kid's a winner.

[@litaf4889]

He's hasn't won shit

[@divorcelawyersuicideencour9461]

Josh Allen a winner at what? ... Playing as Patrick Mahomes on Madden Franchise Mode? 🤣🤣🤣

[@jonnyfevertv3170]

Chiefs fan here for the tears. That said, good vid… and OJ is clearly the greatest BB of all time. Likely top 3 RB of all time. Cheers

[@gjergj124]

As a die hard patriots fan, pretty awesome vid man

[@its_andrune7272]

MASTERPIECE

[@apotheosis140]

As a Lion's fan we've never been able to succeed as long as I've been alive, losing in the NFCCG this year hurt so good considering the 30 minutes we were ahead was probably some of the best 30 minutes of my entire life.

[@ripharambe4796]

family guy star oj simpson

[@UHaulShorts]

*dokumentaray material*

[@christiangemar1552]

I don't understand how you don't dedicate more time to the 13 seconds game. That is easily the greatest football game I've ever seen played.

[@CharlieHepp]

My mom, who could care less about sports, felt bad for the '90s Bills after the fourth SB loss in a row. You made a well-edited, well-documented video on the history of the Buffalo Bills :) I've been a follower of the Bills since 2017 and have just become a full-time fan since this season as well (attended the Miami game as my first Bills game) It seems painful now that the 1 big thing standing between the Bills and the Super Bowl is Patrick Mahomes. Hopefully, this will be something like the Bulls of the NBA, once they get over the hump of their conference rival, the doors wide open for the Chip! Hope to see more videos like this should you ever do another deep dive ❤ I recently started getting into football and was looking for a team to cheer on. this video has convinced me to join the Bill mafia As a Chiefs fan, I love this video. I respect Buffalo a ton and hope that one day their fans can hoist their own Lombardi. Many fans were sick & tired of the Bills making the SB again in the ‘93 season vs the Cowboys & then lost 4 consecutive SBs. I sure was excited towards the end of the ‘94 season when they were eliminated from playoff contention. Looking back now, it is a remarkable feat they even made the SB 4 consecutive seasons. The Chiefs this decade could probably match it. you should do a video on how the islander's 1980s dynasty is so forgotten. they won 4 Stanley Cups in a row and the most playoff series in a row of any team in North American sports history. Honestly, as an Eagles fan, I kinda feel the Buffalo Bills fans. All my life we got close to the SB or had our runs and never got lucky until 2017. The Bills are who I root for in the AFC cause I honestly feel like their fan base and ours are pretty similar. I hope they get an SB with Allen. Quality franchise with awesome fans! Great video. Lifelong Pats fan but I have always loved the Bills going back to using Thurman and Bebe on Tecmo Bowl Welcome to fandom, friend. I've been a Titans fan since '98 when they were the weirdo Tennessee Oilers. Our teams have some fun history together (even outside of The Comeback and the Music City Miracle). I really hope Josh Allen can finally at least get to an SB. He's earned it, and I think it'd be a feel-good story. As a Bills fan.. all I have to say is… “ hurt…” yes that’s a good reference… and I felt my stomach drop and my heart stop watching that ball just drift right from the kick. I immediately turned the TV off, turned my phone to Do Not Disturb, and just went to bed. The next day I still wore my bill hat and my jersey. Win or lose I will be a Buffalo fan. MASTERPIECE Family Guy star OJ Simpson As a die-hard patriots fan, this pretty awesome video man Yeah I know how it feels Chiefs fan here for the tears. That said, good vid… and OJ is clearly the greatest BB of all time. Likely the top 3 RB of all time. Cheers Sadly, the first time I ever heard of O.J. Simpson was when his trial was all over the news. At the time, I was 11 years old and had zero interest in any sport. It wasn't until later that same year that my grandfather got me interested in college football, which gradually led to my interest in pro football and other sports. documentary material I clicked like on the video because it was well put together and I LOVE being reminded of Bill's misery. Best In League Losing Superbowls!!! Did he not mention the Music City Miracle? I may have missed it, but too lazy to rewatch this is the best team you love make Seane. 😅

[@JoawMebs-im6ix]

And living in Canada we had our version of a big trial in 1995 with Bernardo and Homolka , but OJ overshadowed it all.

[@aquila519]

I've never heard of Bernardo and Homolka. Care to elaborate a little about that? I'm curious

[@someguy510bayarea]

@@aquila519- They’re better known as the “Barbie and Ken killers.” There’s ton of documentaries about them and a quick Google search will go into more detail.

[@JoawMebs-im6ix]

Give it a google search. It is difficult to describe.

[@jS-wd9pl]

As a Chiefs fan we know your pain we lost 6 games this year, so we know we know

[@kenw2225]

I bet . Imagine if the refs had called the o line for holding in the 3 superbowl wins. You'd have 3 less sb wins. Remember the only time they did the call o line for holding ? It was against Brady, the actual Golden boy. Got thrashed. It also explains why long time kc fans are so insecure. Shouldnt have even been in the 3 superbowl they won to begin with if the refs and nfl didnt ensure it. The rest of the kc fans became chiefs fans in 2022 and were pats fans 5 years ago.

[@jS-wd9pl]

@@kenw2225 "IF" if the bills didn't piss the bed when it mattered they would have at least one ring...But 'if's" don't matter and Melvin Gordon has more rings then Jim Kelly

[@gustavoventura8069]

Thanks to remind me the force awakens trailer

[@rhinoalienudk3175]

GO BILLS BABY

[@EverythingIsGuchi]

Did he not mention the Music City Miracle? I may have missed it, but too lazy to rewatch this 😅

[@UHaulShorts]

also against da oilerz

[@ageyoung24]

@@UHaulShorts It was against the Titans, formerly known as the Oilers for sure, but completely different franchise in a completely different city at that point.

[@jasonmiller1817]

Get ready for a rollercoaster ride every season long as your a fan I've been a fan my entire life and I'm from buffalo

[@ThePyroHunk]

I was hopeful the Bills would win it all this year 😢

[@gabrielcayton3261]

That bitterness eats a ball club up. It gets in their head.

[@brooksemo1454]

This was amazing but what we really need to do to finally break through and win it al, is to sacrifice anything and everything to the pit

[@oli24yt]

The Nanaland reference completely took me out from left field lmao

[@cokesquirrel]

As a buffalo bills fan since 1974 I will happily take anybody sympathy

[@joshuapatrick682]

wait, is there an OJ Simpson curse on the Bills?

[@nicolasdeperno2000]

I’m not sure I’ll ever see it or not but the Buffalo sports fans are they most passionate sports fans in the country were there for so many years the bills were a non factor they deserve a championship more than anyone a bills lions Super Bowl would be amazing

[@gimletinf69]

At least you didn’t knowingly chose to be a Jets fan😤😳😮‍💨💯

[@williamallen7984]

You have stop trying to pin this on Tyler Bass. There was a minute 43 left and no possible way Mahomes doesn’t eat up clock and get the game winning field goal drive

[@dorothyhunter4656]

As much as we praise the 13 second game . It actually was the start of a downturn for the team. The following season josh and the team couldn't live up to the hype. Then the accident with damar Hamlin happened and that awful Bengals game . After that the connection between Diggs and Allen was never the same . This year has been a roller-coaster 🎢 of emotions. I think this year the less attention on the team will make them better. Because no sports analysts at the moment believes the bills will finally take down the chiefs next season

[@dpglounge4900]

I think the longest playoff drought I know of was my Milwaukee Brewers 26 years from 1982 to 2008 with 7 winning seasons in that span losing 100 games once in 2003 legendary bad still have only made one world series in 1982 which was a loss to the cardinals

[@DamonNomad82]

Sadly, the first time I ever heard of O.J. Simpson was when his trial was all over the news. At the time, I was 11 years old and had zero interest in any sport. It wasn't until later that same year that my grandfather got me interested in college football, which gradually led to interest in pro football and other sports.

[@doesnotexist305]

Fun fact: OJ Simpson has more murder victims (2) than he has career wins against the Miami Dolphins (1). OJ was 1-15 against Miami. Fins Up!

[@Renegade-kf8fp]

They are what they are

[@Kevin-ws6bl]

I went through the same experience as you becoming a bills fan. I used to be a giants fan when I was a kid and remember then beating Brady in the Super Bowl then fell out of it and wanted to get back into this year but I felt no love or connection to the giants anymore and with the bills Being thr only team that plays in my home state it felt natural and I fell in love with the team learning about the teams players coaches and history as the season progressed

[@hateusernames2]

The Bills are the Mariners of NFL

[@TheH00DLUM]

Born and raised here in Buffalo. welcome to the "family" Only way out now is in a box :)

[@joseosegueraortega9079]

I feel bad

[@DamonNomad82]

Palpatine: "Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Buffalo the Wide Right?" Anakin: "Of course! Everyone knows about that. Buffalo came up one point short in Super Bowl XXV by missing a field goal wide right. Then they played in the next three Super Bowls but lost them all by double digits. It was heartbreaking!" Palpatine: "Good, Anakin! Did you hear they made a sequel?" Anakin: "What?!?" Palpatine: "Yes, young Skywalker! It was the second tragedy of Darth Buffalo the Wide Right. The difference was that it happened in the Divisional Round instead of the Super Bowl." Anakin: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

[@kingcastle2000]

Before even watching, I notice that the thumbnail for the video mirrors the Mets and Dodgers videos

[@StarkRavingSports]

Longtime fan right there. Thanks for sticking with us! 🙏

[@georgiafootballhistory]

Did you use VLC media pro to get your footage? It looks interlaced instead of progressive

[@SierraCharlie13]

Surprised you didn’t mentions one of OJs lawyer. He was pretty famous but his daughters went in to be mega stars lol

[@paulweston8408]

IDK if it's actually true, but supposedly, the main reason that O.J. was not cast as the Terminator was because James Cameron didn't think anybody would buy him as a killer! Also, I remember reading a kids book about OJ back in the mid 70's t hat portrayed him as a national hero who only didn't want to go to Buffalo because of the weather.

[@danielsmith2982]

Josh Allen is a superhero

[@dustycrevice3496]

Not only was Derek Anderson 2-17 but he was pictured wearing his Bills uniform.

[@kenw2225]

Anderson is a top 3 browns qb of all time . Don't try to diminish his accomplishments in cleveland

[@zachbowman9396]

Thanks Buffalo for crying enough to get that rule change 😀😆

[@liamjohnson8950]

Your team proposed it first after you lost to New England

[@lucasandrews578]

Shake it off by Taylor Swift is playing in the background at 13:00.

[@CornellSandifer]

Yeah, I use to live on the Buffalo Bill's pain during those 4 super bowls loses, watching Allen (want to be goat turned little lamb) today getting his butt kicked in the playoffs back-to-back brings back the good old days of pain in Buffalo,' looking forward to the future torments to come, all hail to the Chiefs.

[@povertyspec9651]

Chiefs Dynasty

[@manzac112]

I SEE A BANDWAGONER

[@kenw2225]

True, lots of chiefs fans were pats fans 5 years ago

[@javgallardo]

Ayy

[@gimletinf69]

Boy I Love Losing Superbowls BILLS…… Somthings never change😏

[@bigpasty1582]

I never understand how people can "change" their favorite team🤔 I couldn't imagine calling some other team my favorite. Seems convenient I suppose😂

[@darylsbrown]

I clicked like on the video because it was well put together and I LOVE being reminded of the Bills misery. Best In League Losing Superbowls!!!

[@SlXkxmx]

The chiefs knocked buffalo out of the playoffs and went on to appear in the first Super Bowl. This goes back decades

[@spencerburkard]

Welcome to the mafia

[@russellfrey4079]

Screw Buffalo and their terrible fan base

[@user-xi5mx3ov2i]

Wide right sorry guys

[@kenw2225]

Who's your team?

[@paulc254]

Cool video . Go Chiefs 😁 And before I get the "bandwagon" thing AGAIN, I've been a Chiefs fan since they moved to Kansas City MISSOURI in 1963

[@JoawMebs-im6ix]

As a Bills fan we love our team win or lose. Of course a title would be amazing, but there is no way we would love them anymore if they won it all. I think next year I will take anyone winning the SB before the Chiefs.

[@kenw2225]

If kelce is still dating swift and doing certain advertisements, I wouldn't count on it. Remember that ravens game pi by chiefs no call ? Kinda like saints rams game a few years ago. The whole world saw it but the refs on the field.

[@JoawMebs-im6ix]

Maybe. Possible scripting.

[@Venom3254]

"Tragic Hero" Other AFC East teams 😂😂😂

[@masonpyle5929]

As a Jacksonville Jaguars fan I can relate to some of this.

[@ageyoung24]

You can always tell a non-native Bills fan by how they root for the team... natives say "Go Bills!" and the only appropriate response back is "Go Bills!" But welcome to the Mafia. We welcome all!

[@arnoldgarzajr1164]

Please God let the Bills go 13-4 in the 2024 NFL season and go to Suoer Bowl 59 and win it.Please the Bills fans,me,and Josh Allen are on our last leg.If the Bills don't go and win Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans,La we are going to get killed 😂😂 I'm just kidding but please make the Bills a NFL champion

[@choosecarefully408]

This was absolutely brilliant. How we elevate sports so it becomes a thing we gather around in groups feeling like we're part of something larger is something that upsets people when I tell them that this is how religion(s) started. But it's obvious, no?

[@danielsmith2982]

Nobody will get 2000 yds in 14 games ever again

[@desimcgill]

LMFAO bro joined the wrong bandwagon. Should’ve been a Dolphin fan 🐬

[@liamjohnson8950]

The team with the longest playoff win drought in the league? Doesn't sound fun

[@WilliamOdom-nt7ou]

Lmao you do know most people hate the bills right. They were never hereos they had a chance to “save” us from taylor and the chiefs but never were they once considered heroes 😂😂

[@ALRIGHTYTHEN.]

The Bills beat the Chiefs in one of those 4 championship games. The Chiefs gave them a chance to finally get a Superbowl win, but the Bills decided to lose to the Cowboys...again.

[@Bebop2281]

Chiefs and Bengals own them😂

[@kenw2225]

I wouldn't call it tragic. Just like sf, Baltimore, and Buffalo, this year the refs made sure to push mahomes thru. So many u.s. fans have seen this happen and have stopped watching the nfl. 06 steelers, 02 raiders, 2012 ravens, manning broncos, Katrina saints, helmet catch giants, now the past 3 chiefs sbs. Fans see the disparity of reffing in these playoff games , especially. They're tired of it. The swift nonsense is so over the top. It's why they are trying to force additional required streaming services for viewing games. Their desperation is palpable. The original nfl owners are linked to organized gambling, and that's easily verifable, and not debatable. Bubba Smith a colts player from sb 3 , claims it was rigged against Namath. The funniest part about it is if the nfl let the best teams win , the revenue would generate itself. But they insist on adjusting the outcomes for both gambling purposes and narratives . Both game quality and fan retention has been on a domestic decline. Hard to believe they've failed so badly. The initiative to grow the global brand is almost necessary to offset the sour taste they've left in the mouths of their decades long viewers. It's a shame

[@bigbearmerriott9056]

Lol the bills any good, nope "Mahomes is better"